Homily For Second Sunday of Advent Year C, 8th December, 2024

 

Readings: Baruch: 5:1-9; Ps.126; Phil. 1:4-6.8-11; Luke 3:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

PREPARE A WAY FOR THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATH STRAIGHT AND HIS PEACE WILL REIGN IN YOUR HEART

In this world we are so busy preparing, acquiring and safeguarding the things of this passing world. But only a few persons are preparing for the future reality of human life, that is our eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Little wonder, the Church for the past seven days now, have been schooling us in the liturgical Season of Advent, calling our attention to the need for us to be prepared and be opened to embrace the coming King, our Lord Jesus, who is the King of Peace that is coming to dwell among the fallen humanity, to save us from sin and damnation.

Thus, today, the Second Sunday of Advent, we are presented with the theme of intensive preparation following the cry of John the Baptist who preached in the wilderness of Judea as he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight, as we have it in our Gospel passage today.

Also in our first reading, we heard prophet Baruch saying: Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God forever, wrap the cloak of the integrity of God around you, put the diadem of the glory of the Eternal on your head: since God means to show your splendour to every nation under heaven and the name he gives you forever will be, ‘Peace of righteousness and glory of godliness integrity, and honour.

Therefore, as we embrace this Second Sunday of Advent, our focus moves from hope to that of peace where we look up to our Lord Jesus as the Prince of Peace and the Bearer of the everlasting peace and harmony which is lacking in our world today. So, this Sunday we reflect on the Peace that God has bestowed on us through the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ into this world.

But a critical observation of what is going on in our world today, one may be greatly distressed and worried especially as regards the crises of war, protests, secessions and the effects of the current economic hardship. This ugly situation has taken away the peace we are meant to enjoy in this world, as many people are yet to recover from the direct and indirect effects of this terrible and ugly situation in our societies today.

However, amidst all these situations, we are reminded that all hope is not lost, for our Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will surely intervene in our situation and help us once again. No doubt that many people are worried about their means of livelihood, especially those who have no jobs and those who have lost their jobs and occupations in addition to the high cost of commodities. We must not give up or surrender to fear and anxiety. Rather, we should hold firm to the promises the Lord made to us, for in him, we can find true peace and grace to overcome our worries, fears and uncertainties.

 Let us be encouraged by the words of St. Paul in our second reading today where he said. I am quite certain that the One who began this good work in us will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes. Remember, the Day of the Lord may come like a thief, and since everything is coming to an end, we should be living a life that fosters peace, holiness, justice and integrity so that the Lord may find us at peace when he comes in glory.

Dear friends, in the wilderness of this passing world, we are called to prepare a way for the Lord’s peace to reign in our souls. But the only thing that can deny us peace and the fruit of this season is sin, such as unforgivingness, hatred, greed, injustice and immorality. So, what is keeping us from turning away from these ugly ways of life? Why not repent from them so as to embrace the new life of peace Jesus is offering us?

Are we finding it difficult to let go of our ugly sinful ways of life? It’s time to come to Jesus and ask for his grace. Let us embrace the word of God we hear this season and truthfully share it with those we encounter, just like John the Baptist who stood for the truth of his mission and offered it to everyone, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to sinner. This is what we are called to do this season. So, let us be agents of peace in our families, society and the world at large.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, as we prepare the way for Christ coming into our souls. Give us the grace to turn away from sin and embrace the new life of peace and holiness which Christ is offering us this season of Advent. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and joyful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday, the First Week of Advent Year C, 7th December 2024

 

 Readings Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26, Ps 146., Matt. 9:35-10:1,5,6-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

REMEMBER WE ARE LABOURERS FOR GOD’S HARVEST

Walking through the streets I observed how people are struggling to survive in this passing world. I saw their passion, their determination and their willingness to achieve great things in life at the expense of things that prepare us for eternal life. Then my mind turned towards the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, when he saw the crowds and had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest’. 

Here, Jesus reveals God’s compassion towards humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then says to his disciples that there is a huge harvest waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest. Just as we heard the prophet Isaiah in our first reading today reminding us of God’s promises, saying: Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: People of Zion, who dwell at Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry; when he hears he will answer.

Thus, we can see that this compassionate love of Jesus, in its historical and physical solidarity with human suffering, springs from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating missionary activity, which is meant to spread throughout the world, hereby calling us into action. 

Hence, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity is harassed and dejected, wandering like sheep without a guiding shepherd. And because the souls of everyone in the world are so precious to Jesus, he needs many more labourers. 

Therefore, the harvest is as big as ever and people are getting lost and clueless as never before. But who are these labourers? They are not just bishops, priests, or religious men and women. But every baptized person is called in a different capacity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around him/her. So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together. 

Dear friends, how are we carrying out this mission and mandate of Christ? How strong is our compassion towards others? Do we know people who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them and saying something to them. Do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are going through in life? Do we feel the need for Jesus’ help in some part of our life? Then turn to him and be restored.

So, today, each one of us is called to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we find ourselves now, for we may be the last and only person who may have access to evangelize the people. Starting from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that we may be the only people who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard, who will labour to bring your compassionate love to suffering souls who need to hear the Good News of Jesus. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed weekend.

Homily For Friday the First Week of Advent Year C, 6th December, 2024

 

Homily For Friday the First Week of Advent Year C, 6th December, 2024. 

Readings Isaiah 29: 17-24; Ps 27; Matt. 9:27-31

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO YOU HAVE FAITH? LET IT BE DONE TO YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH

There is no doubt that people are passing through a lot of difficulties as a result of the active presence of evil in the world, which manifests itself in the form of trials, temptations, sickness and challenges both physically and spiritually. So, every day, we struggle against these troubles and tribulations, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them. 

But oftentimes, it seems as if we are not making progress because we don’t have enough faith to subdue our challenges, and out of fear, we fall victim and are helpless. The fact is that we have faith, but we have not been able to actively and radically put our faith into positive action that yields positive results like the two blind men in our Gospel passage today. 

These two blind men followed Jesus shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’ And when Jesus reached the house, the blind men came up to him, and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you according to your faith.’ And their sight returned. 

Here, these blind men had faith in Jesus' power of healing. So they followed him persistently. They have one need, one prayer point, that is, to see, they said: Have mercy on us! Yes, Lord, we believe! With these expressions, the two blind men received their sight, just like prophet Isaiah foretold in our first reading, saying: in a short time, a very short time, the deaf will hear the words of a book and, after shadow and darkness, the eyes of the blind will see.

Dear friends, in matters of faith, we are all blind in some ways. We need sight and insight in order to receive the healing touch of God’s merciful love today. For he reaches out to all those who are afflicted and distressed. In this way, he restores us to our dignity as sons and daughters of God the Father. What is needed is faith, to believe that he has the power to give us life, to enable us to feel his presence among us. 

In faith, the blind men followed him persistently, reminding us of the need to be persistent in prayer. For it is not enough to have faith; we must radically put our faith into action no matter the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Because it is through active faith that we can reach out to God in prayers and so obtain what we desire. Therefore, whatever you want God to do for me today, you must ask him with persistent faith, looking with expectation and hope to see your prayers come true. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today you said to the blind men, your faith deserves it, let it be done to you. As we thank you for the gift of our faith, grant us through the intercessions of St Francis Xavier, the grace and courage to persistently put our faith into positive action that yields positive results. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday First Week of Advent Year C, 5th December, 2024

 

Readings Isaiah 26:1-6; Ps 118; Matt. 7: 21.24-27

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO USE THE WORD OF GOD TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE OF FAITH ON A ROCKY FOUNDATION 

As we embrace the spirit of this season of Advent the Church draws our attention to one of the most important teachings of Jesus as we have it in our Gospel passage today, where Jesus says: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. 

Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: for it was founded on rock.

Here Jesus calls our attention to something very important. He reminds us that it is not enough to hear the word of God; we must put it into practice. It is not sufficient to speak about God, but we must practice what we say. We are called not merely to hear God’s word but to daily put it into action.

 Hearing or reading the Word is important, but that is not enough. We must let the Word of God touch and shape our lives. For it is a waste of time and energy if our lives do not reflect the Gospel we preach if we do not hear the words of Jesus and act on them. 

The truth is that the houses built by wise and foolish people may probably look alike. But the difference is the foundations, which can only be revealed when tested by the storms of life. And prophet Isaiah in our first reading tells us to trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the everlasting Rock; he has brought low those who lived high up in the steep citadel; he brings it down, brings it down to the ground, flings it down in the dust, but the humble he raises on high.

Dear friends, what have we been doing with the Word of God we hear every day? What kind of fruit are we bearing? How has the Word of God changed our lives and the lives of those around us? How has the Word of God challenged and propelled us to love God and our neighbours? Is our attitude towards the word of God like that of the foolish builder who takes shortcuts for quick results? Or that of a wise builder who spends time digging for secured foundations through constant meditation and practice of the word of God. 

The fact remains that, hearing and doing the Word of God is building our faith on a rocky foundation, that cornerstone, that solid ground, through the fiercest drought and storms of life, for the fruit of the Word of God in us is seen when tested in the storms of life. Therefore, when we hear the Word, we must apply it to our daily lives because that's the only way we can feed our souls. 

Our society today has enough preachers and hearers of the Word; what we need now is doers of the Word of God. We need men and women who will feed their lives with the Word of God and, from the abundance of their hearts, live a life that will influence society positively.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, through your Word, we find life and hope in Christ, who is our all in all. May we be doers of your Words and not just hearers, in order to build our faith on a rocky foundation through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday of the First Week of Advent Year C, 4th December 2024

 

Readings Isaiah 25:6-10; Ps 22; Matt. 15:29-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THEY ALL ATE AND WERE SATISFIED

There is no doubt that It’s always the desire of humanity to experience the intervention of God whenever we are passing through difficult situations. This had always been the desire and disposition of the people of Israel as they awaited the coming of the Messiah as prophesied by the prophets. 

So, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected Messiah, who was to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The healing touch of Jesus in our Gospel reveals to all those who are in need that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. 

Jesus did not just heal the sick; he also fed the crowd; they all ate and were satisfied. This feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land. So, we need the food of the Eucharist for our journey to heaven which is our promised land. This bread is the gift that we receive from Jesus whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards humanity. 

Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied it greatly. We should never think we have little to give others. Let us learn to share with others, and Jesus will provide for us greatly, for he is the one who feeds the hungry and gives them strength for their journey. 

Just like the prophet, Isaiah tells us in our first reading that on this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food. He will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people’s shame everywhere on earth.

Dear friends, Jesus cares for our physical and spiritual needs. He wants us to learn how to be patient and trust God in times of trouble and tribulations for he alone knows the best time and how best to deal with our problems. For when that time comes he will restore us to his glory and set us free from all evil forces around us, just like the people in our Gospel passage. All he wants from us is to constantly feed our souls with his Words and Eucharist as we journey towards his kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the forces and troubles of this passing world, may we always find solace in your Word and Eucharist and so conquer our fear and challenges, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a glorious day.

Homily For Tuesday First Week of Advent Year C, 3rd December, 2024. The Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

 

Readings Isaiah 11:1-10, Ps 72, Luke 10:21-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EXPERIENCING THE JOY OF CHRIST’S MISSIONARY WORK

As we begin another new day, we continue with the event of Advent, when we reflect on the two-fold coming of the Lord. We are called to spend more time with God and prepare ourselves for his mission just like the disciples in our Gospel passage today.

For after the seventy disciples of Jesus returned from the mission he sent them. They rejoiced concerning the great things they had done in his name. So, Jesus says, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see…”.

Here, Jesus rejoiced in his disciples, because of the grace God his Father has given to them to share in the mission of the Son. Yes, the disciples are blessed because, in Jesus, they are beginning to recognize the long-awaited Messiah, which prophets and Kings longed to see but could not.

This is what we heard from prophet Isaiah in our first reading today when he said: a shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him, the spirit of the Lord rests. His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked. Integrity is the loincloth round his waist, faithfulness the belt about his hips. That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the people. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.

Dear friends, like the disciples, we also have been given this same grace. Whenever we spread the word of God, we are sharing in the mission of Jesus, and this should give us great joy because God chose us and gave us the privilege to share in the mission of his Son. Jesus has brought his salvation into the world, for the restoration of hope for all humanity who dwell in darkness in need of the light of Christ, which we are called to embrace in this season of Advent.

So let us keep spreading the Good News of Christ to humanity by our way of life, just like St Francis Xavier, whose memorial we celebrate today. Xavier was known to have conducted his life's work with great vitality and zeal. His missionary work came from the support and prayers he was receiving from those who sent him and from the beauty from which he viewed his service. He was serving God and helping others. And he was helping others by helping them to find God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your words this season, through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier may we share greatly in the mission of Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Wishing you a glorious day.

Homily For Monday in the First Week of Advent Year C, 2nd December 2024

 

Readings: Is. 2:1-5; Ps.122; Matt 8:5-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO PUT YOUR GIFT OF FAITH INTO POSITIVE ACTION LIKE THE ROMAN CENTURION

We are taught in our Catechism that faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused in us by God. Little wonder our level of faith is not the same. However, our gift of faith grows depending on our disposition and utilization of the gift. That is why, when Jesus invites people to faith and conversion, he does not coerce them; rather, they come to faith through their disposition and utilization of their experience with him.

This is exactly the case with the Roman centurion in our Gospel passage today, who sought help for his sick servant, he approached Jesus for healing, but when Jesus accepted to come to his home, the centurion hesitated, feeling unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home, said to him “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed”.

Here the centurion believes that Jesus can speak a word of healing, and that will be enough to cure his servant. He has total faith and trust in the power of Jesus’ word. For him, the servant did not even have to hear Jesus speak the word: it was enough that the word was spoken. Jesus praised his faith and genuine humility. Today, these words of the centurion have become a pattern of prayer for us, that before Holy Communion, we say it passionately because his faith and compassion are inspiring examples for us to follow.

This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have especially in this Advent season. The faith that leads us to seek God wholeheartedly, to be humble before Him and to love Him above all, and not to allow our pride, ego and desires to lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God.

And when this is done, we can embrace the message of the prophet Isaiah in the first reading today when he said: God will wield authority over the nations and adjudicate between many peoples; these will hammer their swords into ploughshares, their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war.

Dear friends, do we still have total faith and trust in God just like the centurion? What is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given us? Learn to put your gift of faith into positive action. Because our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition.

The centurion interceded for his sick servant, do we intercede for others who need God’s healing and mercy? Do we know that we can speak God’s word in prayer and someone, somewhere, will find healing? Do we often like this centurion, recognize in all humility our unworthiness before God? We are called today to learn from this man’s act of humility and faith.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are weak, and oftentimes, we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life; as we embrace the season of Advent, may you increase our faith and make us humble and patient. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week.